Netflix’s latest romantic offering, My Oxford Year, is set to delight fans of the genre. The film stars Bridgerton favourite Corey Mylchreest, known for his role in the popular spin-off series Queen Charlotte, and promises a heart-wrenching narrative.
The film, directed by BAFTA nominee Iain Morris of The Inbetweeners fame, premiered on the streaming giant today (August 1). It tells the story of ambitious American student Anna, portrayed by Sofia Carson, who relocates to the UK to study at the esteemed Oxford University.
Anna selects this prestigious institution to realise a childhood dream, but her life takes an unforeseen twist when she encounters local tutor Jamie, played by Mylchreest.
Despite their seemingly idyllic romance, there’s a one major issue: Jamie is secretly fighting a terminal illness.
As audiences have started watching the new film, many have been moved to tears by its poignant storyline. But does it draw from real-life events?, reports the Mirror.
My Oxford Year isn’t rooted in a true story; rather, the romcom is an adaptation of Julia Whelan’s best-selling debut novel bearing the same title. The book was initially published in 2018 and has some minor differences compared to the film.
For example, the protagonist in the novel is named Ella Durran, not Anna. Discussing why they chose this particular narrative, producer Marty Bowen disclosed that he connected with the plot due to his own Oxford romance.
“It was a finite period of time that we were going to be there, like in the story,” Marty told Tudum. But it made the relationship that much more heightened because there was less pressure about where it was going to go.
“I actually think it’s those experiences that we take for granted. They become so much more important to you as memories of your life.”
Meanwhile, co-producer Laura Quicksilver was drawn to the story’s relatability. She said: “One of the things we’ve always loved about this story that I think resonates with so many people is, it’s not necessarily the quantity of time you spend with someone, but the quality of that time.”
Viewers have already hailed the Netflix release as the “best romcom of the year.”
My Oxford Year is streaming now on Netflix